India requested UK to not consider asylum for Vijay Mallya: MEA

India has been in talks with the British authorities for Mallya's early extradition to the country after he lost his appeal to evade the same in a High Court in the UK.

"We have been in touch with the UK authorities for early extradition of Vijay Mallya. We have also requested the UK side not to consider his asylum if requested by him," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during an online media briefing.

According to British officials, Mallya's extradition to India is possible only after resolution to further legal issues.

Mallya had earlier exhausted all legal options to evade extradition after he was denied permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court against a High Court ruling that upheld a 2018 order to extradite him to India.

Mallaya, who owned the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has been accused of committing fraud and laundering of nearly Rs 9,000 crore, which he took in loans from different PSU banks, with no intention to return.

He was arrested by the UK police on April 20, 2017, as per the request of Indian investigating agencies.

In April, the fugitive businessman lost an appeal against his extradition in British High Court.

According to UK laws, an individual has to be extradited within 28 days of passing an order by a high court or Supreme Court.

However, if the individual makes an asylum request, which means an appeal to stay in the UK as a refugee, extradition is not possible unless the claim is settled.

It is although unclear if Mallya had made an asylum claim so far.